MTN CHAMPS Athletes Shine, Claim Medals at National Sports Festival
Samuel Mobolaji
Not less than 10 athletes from the Making of Champions (MoC) Academy, scouted through the MTN CHAMPS athletics programme, have emerged as medal winners at the 2024 National Sports Festival in Ogun State, showcasing the rising influence of grassroots development on Nigeria’s athletics scene.
Representing Lagos, Ogun, and Akwa Ibom States, the athletes competed in sprint, middle-distance, and relay events, marking a debut appearance at the national level for many. Their performances underline the growing success of the MTN CHAMPS initiative in identifying and nurturing young talent.
In the Mixed 4x400m relay final, Lagos State claimed the bronze medal with a time of 3:24.36. The team comprised Benjamin Magaji, Jane Onyeneho, Miracle Uwem Donald, and Eniola Shiro—all discovered through MTN CHAMPS and trained for just over a year at the MoC Academy.
Magaji, Onyeneho, and Donald were identified through their performances in various MTN CHAMPS editions, while Shiro earned the Most Valuable Performer (MVP) award in the competition’s inaugural season. Their rapid progression from grassroots discovery to national-level competitors is attributed to the academy’s structured training model.
Host state Ogun struck gold in the same relay event, clocking 3:20.65. The team included Toheebat Jimoh, another MTN CHAMPS MVP, who anchored the victory alongside Gafari Badmus, Tosin Adeleye, and Nathaniel Samson. Jimoh’s rise from school-level athlete to national champion has taken just over a year, further highlighting the programme’s effectiveness.
The National Sports Festival, held biennially, brings together athletes from Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, serving as a platform to celebrate the country’s sporting talent and encourage investment in sports infrastructure and athlete development.
MTN CHAMPS, launched in 2023, is Nigeria’s largest grassroots athletics championship, designed to scout and support the next generation of track and field stars. The success of these athletes at the festival reflects the championship’s growing role as a vital pipeline for sporting excellence.
Their achievements underscore the transformative impact of focused grassroots investment and provide a strong case for expanding initiatives that bridge the gap between talent discovery and elite competition in Nigerian athletics.
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